In exploration of the Festival's theme of Black Health, we present six solo artists performing works related to health.

Jeannine Anderson- A Recital: Ms. Anderson is an instructor and Program Administrative Assistant, at the esteemed Young Musicians Program (YMP) in Berkeley. She is also a graduate of YMP. While a student, Ms. Anderson studied with David Tigner. After graduation, she attended and received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. She then went on to the Mannes College of Music. Ms. Anderson returned to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2003 where she sings and works. During the summer session she is the Artistic Director of YMP's Opera/Musical Theatre and teaches diction.

Tarance "T" Artis- Inside the Brain: Teenage dancer Artis, performs a piece exploring peace and violence, life and death, choices and decisions choreographed by Paco Gomes. It is a work about family love, loss and redemption. "T" is 17 years old and from Denver, Colorado. He has been dancing for seven years and has had the opportunity to train and perform with some of the world's top ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz and lyrical teachers and choreographers. He will be attending Alonzo King Lines Ballet summer intensive in July on a full scholarship.

Paco Gomes - Before and After Fifty: Afro-Brazilian, Paco Gomes comes out of retirement to premiere Before and After Fifty, an exhilarating autobiographical work exploring the passage from youth to adulthood, admiration to love and good health to concern for others. It is a moving tribute to his grandfather. Mr. Gomes has studied folkloric and religious dances since his childhood in Bahia, Brazil and holds a degree in dance and a Masters in education from the Federal University in Bahia. In addition, he has been a guest faculty member at Stanford University. His Dance Company, Paco Gomes and Dancers founded in 2004, has performed in various venues in San Francisco and Bahia, Brazil.

Wayne Harris - Mother's Milk: Veteran AfroSolo artist returns with his loving, uplifting story about his visits home to take care of his mother. With humor, compassion and dignity, he performs the story of her battle with breast cancer. An up and coming Bay Area storyteller, Mr. Harris is currently at work on The May Day Parade in conjunction with director David Ford.

Jacqueline B. Hairston - The Black Voice - A Healing Presence: Hairston will take the audience on a healing musical journey based on sound, breath, and movement. She will use authentic associations from ancient cultures combined with musical tones emanating from the African-American experience that positively enhance the well-being of the body, mind, and spirit. Hairston is a professional pianist, multi-talented ASCAP composer/arranger and vocal coach. She is a noted authority on Black spirituals and has arranged spirituals for or written tributes to renowned singers such as Leontyne Price and Kathleen Battle.

Keith Knight - Drawing Blood: A Cartoonist Look at Black Health: Keith Knight is an award-winning San Francisco-based cartoonist and rapper. His two weekly comic strips, the K Chronicles (seen on Salon.com) and (th)ink (currently seen in the San Francisco Chronicle’s 96 Hours), offer an irreverent combination of race, politics, family and cutting-edge humor. His work has received praise from cartoonists Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury) and Aaron McGruder (the Boondocks), writers Adam Mansbach and Dave Eggers, among others.

Using his keen observation, insight, life experiences and cultural heritage, Knight will present a comic strip slideshow performance exploring health issues in the African American community. He will address these issues with wit, sensitivity, outrage and homage.